The Burger King Breakers roster is well advanced prior to the release of the National Basketball League free agents list on Thursday.
All clubs have the opportunity to re-sign their currently contracted players prior to the April 1 cut off date for the free agents period. This has been a much busier time for clubs this year given the NBL restriction limiting clubs to contracting players to only one-year contracts prior to the 2009/10 season.
With the long term future of the league now secure and confirmation of the return of the Sydney Kings to the league, all clubs have had the opportunity during the current period to re-sign their existing players for up to three years, with the players retaining the players points rating they had at the start of the 2009/10 season. The player rating is a critical part of the salary and points cap system operating in the NBL.
“This has been a very important period for all clubs,” said Burger King Breakers General Manager Richard Clarke. “The opportunity to sign our current players to long term deals, and to retain their existing points rating for the period of their contracts, has meant we have had to look at both the immediate future and the long term development of the roster during this process.
“With the free agents list to be announced later today, we think we are in a good position regarding the local players on our roster and will only have to go to the free agents market for one player at most, potentially none at all.
“At the end of last season we think we were playing very good basketball, and that style of game is what we want Breakers basketball to look like. We have looked to retain the majority of that group, while also bringing the exciting young talent of Corey Webster and Alex Pledger into the main roster.”
The Burger King Breakers can confirm the following players have been re-signed to the roster for the 2010-11 season:
CJ Bruton Guard
Paul Henare Guard
Kirk Penney Guard
Corey Webster Guard
Tom Abercrombie Forward
Dillon Boucher Forward
Alex Pledger Centre
This leaves only one local roster position still to be filled, plus two import positions and the addition of two development players to the roster, both of whom are likely to be local players. The import positions will be filled closer to the commencement of the season.
The club has made an offer to Centre Rick Rickert to fill the final local roster spot, subject to his expected naturalization prior to the season. Rickert is currently one of the top performers in the Bartercard National Basketball League with the Harbour Heat.
The re-signing process has seen 2009/10 players Oscar Forman and Jeremiah Trueman released by the club, decisions that Head Coach Andrej Lemanis says weren’t taken lightly.
“This has been a very hard process, and we talked a lot about Jeremiah and Oscar and would have loved to have enough room to fit both of them in. Unfortunately we weren’t able to do that, so we have given them permission to talk to other clubs prior to the free agents list being released.
“Oscar has been with us for four years and has made a great contribution to the club; it was a very hard decision to release him. In terms of the game I want us to play and the type of player we need it would have changed Oscar’s role significantly so it was decided to let him look for a contract with another club.
“Jeremiah is a little bit different, albeit for now we have told him that he should see what else is available to him in the league, as we have no doubt other clubs will be interested in him. But depending on what happens with our final local roster position we have not ruled out the chance of him being back as a Breaker – should he still be available of course.”
With Corey Webster’s elevation to full player status (he was a development player last season) the 20 year old becomes the first player to come through the club’s player pathway from Academy to full roster status.
Burger King Breakers Academy and Assistant Coach Judd Flavell sees significance in Webster’s achievement.
”Our focus at the Breakers is twofold, on the one hand we are trying to win the ANBL but on the other we are also looking to develop local talent and offer a pathway to the professional leagues for up and coming basketballers. Corey is testament to that pathway working as he deservedly picks up his first senior contract in the NBL.
“His story is one that should be heeded by other youngsters hoping to one day play professionally. With hard work, dedication and patience they can achieve that goal without having to leave New Zealand. I know he will represent the Academy and our development programmes with great pride when wearing a Breakers singlet.”
The NBL Free Agents list is due to be released to clubs at 7pm New Zealand time today (Thursday).
